ATTACKS on an isolated church have led to a police appeal for help from the community.

The latest attack on St Agatha's Church, Easby, near Richmond, saw vandals set off a fire extinguisher around the church and defecate on the carpet in front of the altar.

Other incidents include bell ropes, window cords and a noticeboard being set alight, gravestones smashed and overturned, pamphlets and prayer books destroyed and a security light being ripped from the wall.

Now the church is locked throughout the day to both visitors and worshippers.

Police believe local youths either truanting or excluded from school are responsible and head teachers are being questioned as part of ongoing investigations.

In an effort to catch the vandals, the church is exploring ways in which money might be raised to install a CCTV camera system.

However, Sgt Richard O'Neil, of Richmond police, claims there are better ways to catch criminals.

He told the D&S Times: "I don't think the church needs to go to the expense of installing CCTV cameras. There are other ways to catch criminals.

"I think the best thing Easby can do is set up a neighbourhood watch scheme.

"These schemes work and information on criminal activity is passed on to police straight away which helps us to do our job and catch criminals."

The Rev Ruth Wigram, vicar of Easby with Skeeby, Brompton-on-Swale and Bolton-on-Swale, embraced the idea.

She said: "I am very concerned about the vandalism at St Agatha's and I think a neighbourhood watch scheme is something we need to look at."

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Richmond police on 01748 823055.